MEETING AT BONNER WAS A HUGE JOKE. ~ "GRAND RALLY" TURNED OUT TO BE NEGRO PICNIC.

July 12, 1908

MEETING AT BONNER

WAS A HUGE JOKE.

"GRAND RALLY" TURNED OUT

TO BE NEGRO PICNIC.

Candidates From K. C., K., Who Had

Provided Money for the Fried

Chicken and Watermelon,

Are a Sore Bunch.

The first crate of lemons, those of the nice large sour juicy variety, was opened yesterday and passed around among about forty candidates seeking nomination at next month's primaries. The distribution took place in a grove just outside the town where a "grand old rally" was to take place. The candidate had all contributed money to help defray the expense with the understanding that the event would be of much political importance and one long to be remembered.

It will be remembered all right by those candidates who donated to the cause, as the biggest joke played on them in all of their political experience. The managers of the affair had promised to have Cyrus Leland, W. J. Bailey and other speakers of prominence as the principal orators of the day.

When the candidates reached Bonner on a Union Pacific train at 11 o'clock and asked where the big rally was being held, they were surprised with the answer, "What rally?"

"Why, the big Republican meeting today."

"Oh, yes, now that I think about it, I did hear something about a meeting that was to be held here, but none of us people know anything concerning it.. We have been trying to find out something about it ourselves. There is a negro picnic being held out in the grove north of town."

The candidates started out on foot to locate the picnic grounds. Upon their arrival at the grove they found a number of negroes enjoying themselves in the shade of the trees The men who had collected the money from the candidates to defray the expenses of the "big rally" announced that Leland and Bailey were unable to be present. Other speakers billed for the occasion were also conspicuous by their absence. The candidates were very much disappointed, but circulated around the grounds until the first train bound for Kansas City arrived.

The candidates declared that they had been "stung" by some of their colored constituents. Some of them took turn about kicking each other, while others laughed it off, claiming that it might have been worse. It seems that no arrangements had been made for the meeting, other than the collection made from the candidates. Before the candidates left the grounds, however, F B. Dawes of Leavenworth, who happened to be in Bonner on business, delivered a short patriotic address which was followed by brief talks by four of the candidates.

In anticipation of a political meeting Samuel Hackley of Kansas City, Kas., was on the scene with his box kites with large banners bearing the names of Taft and Sherman and the picture of Mr. Leland.

The candidates were all of one mind -- they had been jobbed, that was all.